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PICTURED: Emmerdale's Ashley Thomas is surrounded by family for his heartbreaking final moments... as his last words to wife Laurel are revealed

His final scenes are due to air on Friday night's episode of Emmerdale.

And a picture from Ashley Thomas' final moments have revealed he will be surrounded by friends and family when he loses his battle to degenerative vascular dementia.

With the vicar (John Middleton) brought home for his final days, the family gather around him to share memories - donning pirate hats in a nod to the pirate ship he built for his children that they use as a drinking den.

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Heartbreaking: A picture from Ashley Thomas' final moments have revealed he will be surrounded by friends and family when he loses his battle to degenerative vascular dementia

In heartbreaking scenes, Ashley regains consciousness for his final moments, able to utter his wife's name 'Laurel' for the first time in months.

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In another moment of lucidness, he will look at beloved photographs of his family members before peacefully passing away.

Speaking about the ending, Emmerdale boss Ian MacLeod revealed he believed it was a fitting tribute for the soap stalwart.

Emotional: In heartbreaking Emmerdale scenes on Friday Ashley regains consciousness for his final moments, able to utter his wife's name 'Laurel' for the first time in months

He told the Daily Star: 'When we first talked about doing it there was a tiny bit of anxiety on my own part about whether we were going too far with it or whether people might not think this is what soap is about.

'But it was so firmly rooted in the story and the character of Ashley. The photography in this final episode feels cinematic.

Devastating: New images have been released of Ashley Thomas' funeral, ahead of his heartbreaking departure from Emmerdale later this week

Following the untimely death, the village, alongside Ashley's wife Laurel and his children Gabby and Arthur, are seen fighting back tears as they take their places in the church to bid farewell to Ashley, played by John Middleton.

On the last episode of the beloved ITV soap, Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) had to make the brave decision to take her husband home to die in peace.

Finally losing his battle with dementia later this week, family and friends are seen gathering in church to pay their respects to the late vicar - fighting back their tears as the coffin makes its way to the front.

While his entire family struggle to accept the news, his daughter Gabby (Rosie Bentham) takes it particularly hard - and blames her mother Bernice for not getting enough time to say goodbye properly.

RIP: Finally losing his battle with dementia later this week, family and friends gather in church to pay their respects to the late vicar - fighting back tears as the coffin leads to the front

However the death of course comes as a devastating hit to Laurel, his three children and former love interest Harriet Finch.

Bellamy, who plays his on-screen wife, confessed to Digital Spy that her character suffers most from the shock of losing her husband so suddenly.

She explained: 'Laurel feels numb after Ashley's death and she's on autopilot.

'Laurel wasn't prepared to lose Ashley at all, because she thought they had years left together. He's taken so abruptly and Laurel just wasn't ready for it.'

Goodbye: The emotional installment will mark John Middleton's last ever appearance on the soap, after playing vicar Ashley Thomas for two decades

She then added of the service: 'There's a big turnout at the funeral, but that's no surprise really because Ashley has been such a central part of the village over the years.'

The emotional installment will mark John's last ever appearance on the soap, after playing vicar Ashley for two decades.

On Monday night's episode of Emmerdale it was announced that his character only has days left to live, following his battle with dementia.

Sad scenes: It all came to a head on Monday night's episode of Emmerdale, as it was announced that Ashley - played by John Middleton - only has days left to live

Fans were besides themselves and left in tears by the emotional scenes, which saw Laurel choose to take him home to die so he could be comfortable in his surroundings.